Page 37 of You Willfully Misunderstand Me

Elizabeth was the first to break the silence, "Then what are we to do?"

Darcy considered his answer carefully, "First, we must not allow anyone to know that we have cause for suspicion. Because if someone has gone to the trouble of arranging this, they will be watching for our reaction." He moved toward the hearth, his expression thoughtful. "Until we understand who is responsible and what they intend, we must proceed as though nothing has changed."

Elizabeth looked at him, "You mean we must pretend to not know anything?"

A faint expression crossed his face, "We have acquired some experience in that regard."

Despite the seriousness of the moment, Elizabeth could not prevent the small smile that touched her lips, "Indeed, Mr. Darcy."

Darcy continued, "We will be cautious. We will not travel alone. We will not discuss this matter where we might be overheard. And if anything unusual occurs, we will tell one another immediately."

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows slightly, "One another?"

He looked at her, "Yes." The answer came without hesitation.

And, Elizabeth thought of his words. Mr. Darcy did not say,you will tell me, or I will protect you, but we. They were no longer two individuals caught in the same unfortunate circumstance, each attempting to navigate it alone. They were not merely acquaintances bound together by necessity, nor were they simply acting out a role for the benefit of others. They were partners. He was a man who trusted her.

Finally she replied quickly, "I agree.”

And then, for a moment, they simply regarded one another, before Mr. Darcy nodded his head before shifting his gaze to their door. "Shall we return to the parlor? Before Mrs. Kewley determines that something terrible has occurred because we have been absent too long?"

A hint of amusement touched his expression, and Elizabeth replied with a slight smile. "That is a very fine idea. She has a remarkable ability to discover things without ever intending to pry. And if we return looking as though we have uncovered a dangerous conspiracy—"

He finished her sentence with confidence, "She will know."

Elizabeth nodded, her smile widening, "Within the hour; you can count on it, Mr. Darcy"

They shared a brief look of understanding. They would walk into the parlor together, speak of ordinary things, and allow the Kewleys to believe their Master and Mistress had spent a small part of the afternoon discussing nothing more alarming than the weather and the repairs at the harbor.

Darcy opened the door, but before stepping through, he lowered his voice, "One more thing."

Elizabeth looked up to his face, "Yes?"

"Whatever happens, you must not place yourself in unnecessary danger,” he looked grave in that moment, and Elizabeth gave him a look that was unmistakably Elizabeth Bennet.

"Mr. Darcy, I fear your advice would carry considerably more weight if you were not so determined to provide me with examples of precisely what not to do."

For a moment, Darcy simply looked at her. Then, to her surprise, the faintest trace of amusement touched his expression, "I cannot determine whether I ought to be grateful for your concern or apologize for having given you so many opportunities to express it."

Elizabeth's lips curved despite herself, "Perhaps both."

"Perhaps," he agreed.

She regarded him with some suspicion, "You do not intend to argue with me then?"

"Would it improve my position if I did?"

"No, it would not," she replied tartly through a smile.

"Then I believe discretion recommends silence."

The answer was so unexpectedly sensible that Elizabeth could not help but laugh. "There, Mr. Darcy. That may be the wisest decision you have made all morning."

His brows ever so slightly lifted, but only shook his head, and a quiet smile passed between them.

Darcy inclined his head, finally deciding to respond, "Then I shall attempt to provide fewer examples of what not to do. Though I should warn you," he added, his expression returning to its usual seriousness, "I cannot promise perfection."

"How fortunate," she replied. "I should dislike discovering you were entirely without faults. It would make conversation exceedingly difficult."